More than 8 million people took part in the third 'No Kings' protest against the Trump administration on Saturday, organisers said. With over 3,300 events held in all 50 US states and more than a dozen countries, it is the largest single day of protests in American history, according to Britt Jacovich, deputy communications director for Move On, one of the groups behind the rallies.
The protests, organised by a coalition including Move On, Indivisible, 50501, and labour unions, were fuelled by a range of grievances. 'Since the last No Kings, we’re seeing higher gas prices and groceries, all while there’s an illegal war in Iran,' said Sarah Parker, executive director of Voices of Florida and a national coordinator for 50501. 'The people of America are pissed.'
The flagship event in Minnesota’s Twin Cities drew an estimated 200,000 people. Senator Bernie Sanders addressed the crowd, and Bruce Springsteen performed 'Streets of Minneapolis', leading chants against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Governor Tim Walz praised the state’s resistance to federal agent deployments, which led to the deaths of two Minneapolis residents, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, whose names featured on protest signs.
In New York City, contingents converged at Times Square and other boroughs. Attorney General Letitia James, public advocate Jumaane Williams, actor Robert DeNiro, the Rev Al Sharpton, and Padma Lakshmi led a march from Central Park with banners reading 'We protect our democracy'. Protesters carried LGBTQ+ and Palestinian flags, with anti-ICE, anti-Trump, and anti-war messages prominent. In Washington DC, a group of Palestinian mothers stood at the Lincoln Memorial, while another march targeted the residence of White House senior adviser Stephen Miller.
In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson addressed thousands in Grant Park, saying 'Our movement is bigger, our resolve is bigger.' Other speakers focused on labour rights and protections for immigrant and transgender communities. Nearly half of all 'No Kings' events were held in traditionally Republican or battleground states, including rural areas that had never seen such mobilisations, organisers said.
